Process for cleaning gloves.



R. & P. LUNGSTRA S.

PROCESS FOR GLBANING GLOVES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1913.

Patented 'June 16, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"R. & P. LUNGSTRAS.

PROCESS FOR CLEANING GLOVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1918.

m2 m B 13 Q m M2 u n e t a P ROBERT LUNGSTRAS AND PAUL LUNGSTRAS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PROCESS FOR CLEANING GLOVES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J e 16 1914.

Application filed July 16, 1913. Serial No. 779,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT Lrmos'rRAs and PAUL LUNGSTRAS, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of M15- souri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Cleamng Gloves, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates, to processes or methods for extractin the accumulation of grease, dirt, perspiration, stains, etc., found upon gloves, particularly the finger tips of kid or leather gloves, which have been worn for any considerable period of time; and has for its prime object to afford a process not merely simple and inexpensive, but, also, more rapid, satisfactory and effective than that disclosed in the patent to Robert Lungstras, a party to this application, No. 986,072, dated March 7, 1911.

r In the earlier methods of cleaning gloves the article would first be soaked in a volatile dissolving or cleaning fluid, next placed (2n forms, then rubbed by hand with a bristle brush moistened with the dissolving fluid and finally rinsed in a receptacle containing fluid (2'. 6. clean) dissovling. fluid. Subsequently came attempts to eliminate the large expenditure of time and manual labor entailed in the a earlier process described and machlnes were introduced comprising bristle brushes wh1ch revolved orotherwise moved in a cleansing fluid in contact with the gloves placed in said machines. In some of these mechanical contrivances the brushes referred to werc given a reciprocatory or scrubbing movement with the idea of more efiicaciously cleaning the gloves, while in other types one I stick or form and the tips worked clean by friction with a moistened brush as in the earlier process. Where the stains were st'ubborn the glove would be removed from the form and kneaded between the fingers of the operator for the three-fold purpose of softening the material. raising the fiber or nap to a slight extent and. primarily, to squeeze out (as it were) the dirt and greasy deposits, the glove being moist or damp with cleaning fluid while so kneaded.

In the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, F igure' 1 is sectional elevat on of one form of apparatus by aid of WhlCh our process may be carried out; Fig. 2 a cross-section of the apparatus shown in Flg. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of another form of apparatus which may be employed with advantage; and Fig. 4 a crosssection of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

In the practice of our invention we may employ a cylindrical rotary machine of the character depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, the same comprising a receptacle 1 suspended, by axles 2 affixed to its opposite heads 3, in a substantially air-tight housing 4 and adapted to receive reciprocal rotation or rotation continuously in one direction through the agency of a crank-handle 5 keyed upon one pf said axles. It will, of course, be appreciated that other means for imparting motion to said receptacle may be substituted for handle 5, such as a belt and pulley arrangement used in connection with the wellknown automatic reversing-gears.

So far as concerns an apparatus by aid of which this process can be carried out, a machine embracing the parts above described and shown in Fig. 1 would suffice to accomplish excellent results. but we have discovered that the use of a machine embrac-' tacle. The gloves (or other similar articles) to be cleaned .are, preferably, placed in open-mesh bags 11 and mixed therein with a quantity of small sponges 12. anumber of such bags so filled being then disposed in receptacle l. The bags as thus disposed are submerged in a volatile dissolving or cleaning fluid l3. preferablyhigh-grade gasolene. with which is mixed an alkali. preferably caustic potash or ammonia, and a fatty garb acid, preferably oleic acid (a'cidum oleicum or hydrogen oleate). If the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 be employed, the doors of the housing having been closed, the air is 5 first exhausted by means of a pump (not shown) connected with pipe 9, an nert gas, preferably nitrogen gas or carbonic gas, is next introduced from any convenient source of supply through pipe and, finally, 10 steam is turned through coil 7 to heat the gasolene. The machine selected having been set in motion, through the agencies before described, the gloves are constantlywashed by the gasolene and the oleic acid, being readily soluble in the volatile fluid, is saponified by the alkali and servesto disintegrate the oily deposits and dirt of other character upon the gloves, while the highly important'function of the sponges is to scrub the gloves, gently and persistently abrade them and to supply the valued kneading operation formerly secured by manual manipulation.

By reference to the prior patent hereinbefore mentioned it will be appreciated that in discovering the adaptability of sponges for use in lieu of objects 7 forming part of the subject-matter of said patent a valuable advance in this art has been made. Whereas said objects were of gritty character adapted to readily wear away in use and, hence, were apt to act too severely upon the gloves and had to be replaced at rather frequent intervals, the sponges now employed are rendered peculiarly firm and tough by the action thereon of the gasolene and thus, while filling the office of said objects do not readily wear away in use and are incapable of acting too severely upon the gloves. The abrading effect produced by said sponges, as aforesaid, is gentle in the extreme, but is quite sufficient to remove any dirty nap or glaze in order to expose the underlying comparatively clean strata of material and it will be appreciated that the use of a number of bags 11 each containing a quantity of gloves and sponges contributes in no small degree to the success of this process, inasmuch as said bags serve to retain the gloves and sponges in very close relation while the movement of the machine has the effect of constantly throwing one bag against another which results in compressing and forcibly rubbing together the articles contained therein.

We deem it proper to state that while sponges have been found the most satisfactory articles to be used in this process because of their peculiar firmness while under the action of the gasolene, whereby they are enabled to engage and literally scrub the glove surface, yet we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves precisely thereto and the right is reserved of employing in lieu thereof any article or material in which lightness in weight is combined with some of the other characteristics of a sponge, as, for example, rough and porous cloth, felt, burlap, canvas or chamois-skin.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. The process of cleaning gloves whicl comprises the disposition thereof in a cleansing fluid, inimparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

2. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in a cleansing fluid, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

3. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in a cleans ing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

4. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the dispositionthereof in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

5. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

6. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

7. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

8. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali,

My, a w

tion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

10. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in a cleansing fluid, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing said fluid, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in heating said fluid;

in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of ob ects of spongy character.

11. The rocess of cleaning gloves which comprises t e disposition thereof in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing 'said fluid, acid and alkali, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting, the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

12. The process'of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in heating said fluid, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character.

- 13. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing said fluid, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

14. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing said fluid, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in saidbags.

15. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged'in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in exhausting the air from the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

16. The process of cleaning gloves which comprises the disposition thereof in bags submerged in a cleansing fluid, in adding to said fluid a fatty acid and an alkali, in exhausting-the air from the vessel containing said fluid, acid and alkali, in replacing said air with an inert gas, in heating said fluid, in imparting motion to said vessel, and in subjecting the gloves in the moving vessel to massage by a plurality of objects of spongy character confined in said bags.

ROBERT LUNGSTRAS. l LUNGSTRAS,

Witnesses:

CHAs. J. G. Srmsen, CHAS. H. LEVY. 

